Stackable And Hand Transportable Traffic Management Device

ABSTRACT

A traffic management device comprises at least opening in the surface of its body to facility hand grasping of a single or a stacked plurality cones. The traffic management devices may be in the shape of a cone. The device further comprises a registration structure so that a worker can align the devices in a stacked configuration so that the cut outs of each opening are aligned to create a handhold for the stacked cones.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to devices that provide a visual alert to persons for a variety of purposes, such as traffic management devices in the form of signals and indicators and often in the form of cones, and, more specifically to such devices constructed to be stackable and having structure for carrying a plurality thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

The present invention generally relates to traffic management devices. Traffic management devices in the form of cones, commonly-known as parking cones, traffic cones, orange cones, etc., are well-known. These cones are typically portable and temporarily placed in a location as a visual alert to people who may be either or both pedestrians or vehicle operators. In this manner, cones are used to mark indoor and outdoor traffic hazards in various situations where vehicles or pedestrians must be redirected around emergency conditions.

Likewise these devices can be used to mark the perimeter of an area that requires temporary restricted access such as an accident or crime scene, or otherwise to loosely define areas such as an area for a specific use like an athletic field. As used herein and above, the term ‘traffic management device’ and variants thereof refers to all varieties and uses commonly understood for the above-referenced ‘cones,’ each of these terms being used for convenience herein.

Stacking cones is well-known as it lessens the amount of time that a worker has to spend carrying multiple devices and creates a safer way of transporting multiple and stacked devices to work-site near highway traffic. Cones rarely sit in a clean environment, typically being used on roads and highways and dirty floors, and carrying cones by their bases results in transferring the dirt to the carrier.

One traffic management device that is a familiar item seen often on roadways is the traffic cone used to mark traffic lanes, and alert and redirect drivers around construction or accidents. However, this traffic management device has no integrated means for grasping and carrying a plurality of stacked devices from a storage area to a work-site.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the limitations of traffic management devices by providing an improved traffic management device incorporating integrated carrying means whereby a worker can grasp and carry a plurality of stacked devices and, in preferred forms, do so using a single hand. The present invention relates to a traffic management device that can be stacked, stored and carried in a space-efficient manner. The present invention includes a handhold for carrying the cones in a portion at a distance from the base such that, by not having to grasp the bottom of the traffic management device, the worker is able to maintain hand hygiene.

In one embodiment of the present invention the traffic management device is a traffic cone.

The traffic management device is furnished with at least one cut-out creating a handhold while at the same time not diminishing the visually attentive qualities, such as reflective qualities, of the traffic management that make it an effective traffic hazard signal.

In another embodiment of the invention, the traffic management device is furnished with two cut-outs creating a suitcase handle-like carrying means.

The devices can be stacked, typically about six tall, and still maintain the single hand grasping and handle means. The interior of the device behind the cut-outs may be light reflective for safety reasons so that the absence of exterior surface area caused by the cut-outs does not diminish the effectiveness of the traffic management device as a safety device.

One preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a traffic management device comprising a body generally defining an exterior surface and an interior space. A base supports the body and is disposed as to support the device on a surface when in use. The device further comprises a handhold formed in the body for grasping and carrying it. The handhold includes at least a first opening in the body extending from the exterior surface to the interior space and configured for receiving a hand there through for grasping the device. In another preferred embodiment the handhold includes a pair of openings. The interior space is defined by an interior surface of the body which has at least a portion visible through the handhold being finished so as not to diminish the alert characteristics of the device to a visual observer. The base includes a portion extending laterally outward from the body. The device and handhold are configured to permit a plurality of devices to be stacked such that the exterior body surface of an inferior-positioned of the plurality of devices is receivable within the interior space of a superior-positioned plurality of devices and at least a portion of the handhold of one device may be overlapped with the handhold of a second device to permit grasping of the devices simultaneously thereby.

The device further includes a registration structure permitting the inferior-positioned device to be received by the superior-positioned device in a predetermined orientation thereto. The predetermined orientation including the handholds of the devices are at least partially overlapping. The plurality of devices that can be stacked may be up to six.

At least a portion of the body may be generally conical and at least a portion of the body exterior surface may be reflective. As well, at least a portion of the body interior surface may be finished in manner consistent with the body exterior surface. The base and body may be configured so that the center of mass of the device is located within the base. The handhold may be generally rectangular having four sides. At least a portion of the handhold sides may be configured for protecting a carrier grasping the device thereat. The registration structure includes interior structure disposed on the interior surface and, exterior structure disposed on the exterior surface such that the interior structure of a superior-positioned device cooperates with the exterior structure of an inferior-positioned device, the registration structure including a slot and a groove cooperatively engageable to align the devices in the predetermined orientation with at least a portion of the openings being overlapping.

The device may further include a frame securable with the handhold for grasping each handhold thereat.

The main advantage of the invention is that it permits multiple stacked traffic management devices to be carried from a storage area to a work-site in an efficient and safe manner using a single hand. There is no need to use a carrier or a caddy to move a plurality of stacked devices.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a stacked configuration.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 2 in a stacked configuration.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of one embodiment of the registration structure of one embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE

Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated one embodiment of the traffic management device of the present invention in the form of a traffic cone 100. However, there are other shapes of stackable and hand transportable traffic management devices to which this invention applies. At least a portion of the traffic management device may be conical.

The traffic management device 100 is shown comprising a hollow truncated conical body 102 having an exterior surface 114 and an interior space 103. The conical body 102 has a truncated apex 104 and a base 106. The base includes a portion 107 that extends outwards from the body 102. The base 106 may be weighted to ensure stability in wind and the centre of gravity (CoG) 111 of the device is within the base. The base supports the body and is disposed to support the device on a surface when in use.

The truncated apex 104 and the base 106 of the device 100 are open to permit stacking of one device on top of the other. The body 102 is fabricated from a light-weight and flexible material so that when struck by a moving vehicle the conical body 102 can collapse or crush and then regain its original shape without doing damage to the vehicle or becoming a dangerous flying projectile. Materials can range from waterproofed paper to suitable thermoplastics such as PVC to recycled materials. The exterior surface 114 of the body 102 is coated with brightly colored and reflective paints and/or symbols in accordance with Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation or analogous regulatory bodies of different countries.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated embodiment of the traffic management device 100 comprises at least a first opening 120. The at least first opening 120 creates a handhold for grasping and carrying the device. The at least first opening 120 in the body 102 extends from the exterior surface 114 to the interior space 103 and is configured to receive a hand there through for grasping the device. The handhold opening 120 is generally rectangular permitting a hand to enter the opening 120 and grasp the device by one of the four sides 126 to 132. Each of the sides of the opening 120 can be treated so as not to present a potential cutting surface for the worker's hand. Treatment may include a rubber or leather surround (partially shown at 121) fixed to each of the sides 126 to 132.

Referring to FIG. 2 in another embodiment of the invention the traffic management device 200 comprises a pair of openings 220 and 222.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in each of the devices 100 and 200 illustrated each of the bodies 102 and 202 have an interior space 103 and 203 defined by an interior surface 105 and 205 of the bodies 102 and 202 respectively. The interior surfaces 105 and 205 have at least a portion thereof visible through the handhold openings 120, 220 and 222. Therefore, these visible portions of the interior surfaces of the bodies will be finished in a manner similar to the exterior surfaces 114 and 214 so as not to diminish the alert characteristics of the device to a visual observer.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the sides 126 to 132 of the handhold opening 120 may be structurally reinforced to facilitate carriage of the traffic management device by hand. A hand-grasping or carrying frame 123 can be inserted into the rectangle to facilitate hand grasping without cutting the hand and to reinforce the load bearing area of the cut out. The frame 123 engages all sides of the rectangle. The frame 123 can also be adjustable lengthwise so that it can fit and secure to stacked configurations of devices wherein the handhold is diminished by the overlapping devices. This is shown in FIG. 4 item 423.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the worker can carry the single device right-side-up by inserting a single hand or even a pair of fingers to support the device from the side 132 of the handhold cutout 120. Alternatively, the worker can carry the single device upside-upside-down by supporting the device from side 128 of the handhold. Advantageously, this embodiment of the invention permits the worker to carry the device by a single hand in a convenient and safe hand-hold as represented by the rectangular cut out rather than by attempting to grasp the conical top of the device.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown the device of FIG. 1 100 in a stacked configuration. In FIG. 4, four devices 100A to 100D are in a stacked configuration but up to six of the devices can be stacked. The handhold openings 120A to 120D of the four stacked devices are disposed over each other as the devices are stacked. This creates a diminished opening 120A which the carrier can use to lift and carry the stacked configuration of devices. Advantageously the adjustable reinforcing frame 423 shown installed within reduced opening 120A can be used by the carrier to carry the stacked configuration without injury to the hand.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the devices illustrated include a base 106 and stacked bases 106 A to 106 D respectively which further include a portion 107 and stacked portions 107A to 107D [107A to 107C not illustrated] extending laterally outward from the body of each device. As shown in FIG. 4, the devices 100A to 100D and the handholds 120A to 120D are configured to permit a plurality of the devices to be stacked such that the exterior body surface [114A not illustrated] of an inferior positioned device [100A] of the plurality of stacked devices [100A to 100D] is receivable within the interior space [103B—not illustrated] of a superior positioned device [100B] of the plurality of stacked devices. At least a portion of the handhold [120A] may be overlapped with the handhold [120B] of a second device [100B] to permit grasping of the stacked devices simultaneously.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 a registration structure 140 and 140D respectively permits the inferior positioned device 100A to be received by the superior positioned device 100B in a predetermined orientation. The predetermined orientation includes the handholds 120A and 120B of each of the respective devices being at least partially overlapping,

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 the registration structure 140 includes an interior structure 129 disposed on the interior surface 105 of a superior positioned device cooperating with an exterior structure 127 disposed on the exterior surface 114 of an inferior positioned device. The exterior structure may be a slot and the interior structure may be a groove cooperatively engaging to align the devices in the predetermined orientation with at least of the openings 120A to 120D being overlapping. A frame 423 [FIG. 4] may be securable within the handhold for grasping each handhold of the stacked devices.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is a shown further detail of one embodiment of a registration structure for a cone shaped traffic management device 500 which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated the device has a first opening 502 and a second opening 504. Between the two cut outs is a carrying member 506. The registration structure is located between the two openings and on the carrying member and comprises a slot 508 formed on the exterior side of a single device 510 and a groove 512 on the opposite side such that one of either the slot or groove of one device 510 registers with a groove or slot of a second device 514 so that a plurality of devices may be easily oriented in a stacked configuration by the worker so that that all of the cut outs 502 and 504 of the stacked configuration are aligned and carrier can grasp the carrying member 506 with a single hand.

When placing one device on top another device, the worker need only rotate the device by hand to feel the inside groove/slot structure of the top placed device engage in registration with the corresponding groove/slot structure of the bottom disposed device and then drop the device into place. As can be seen by reference to FIG. 4, a number of devices can be stacked and still provide for a grasping cut out 120 large enough for a hand to fit.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention 200. In this embodiment the traffic management device comprises a hollow truncated conical body 202 having a truncated apex 204 and a base 206. The base has a portion 207 extending out from the body. The base 206 may be weighted to ensure stability in wind and the centre of gravity (CoG) 211 of the device is located in the base. The apex 204 and the base 203 are open. The body of the device is fabricated and coated in the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. There is a first opening 220 and a second adjacent, identical and parallel opening 222. The openings 220 and 222 are separated by a carrying handle 224. The handle member may be reinforced on the interior surface thereof to facilitate carriage by hand. The openings are illustrated as elongated cigar shaped openings but they can have other shapes as well that facilitate hand grasping. Each of the sides and the tops and bottoms of the cut outs can be treated in a similar manner as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as described above so as not to present a potential cutting surface for the carrier's hand. As well, a hand-grasping or carrying frame 221 and 223 similar to the embodiment describes with respect to FIG. 1 can be inserted into each of the cut outs to facilitate hand grasping without cutting the carrier's hand. Advantageously, this embodiment of the invention permits the worker to carry the device like a valise or suitcase using a single hand in a convenient and safe hand-hold.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, there is shown in FIG. 3 the device of FIG. 2 (200) in a stacked configuration. In FIG. 3, four devices 200A to 200D are in a stacked configuration. The cut outs 220A to 220D and 222A to 222D and the handle members 224A to 224D of the four devices are disposed over each other as the devices are stacked. There is a registration structure 240 disposed into at least one side of the inside body surface 205 of each device 200 so that the devices can be easily oriented by the worker in a proper stacked configuration such that all of the cut outs are aligned as illustrated. The registration structure comprises an interior structure 229 and an exterior 227 structure. The registration structure operates in the same manner as described with respect to FIGS. 5 so that one of either the slot or groove of a superior first device registers with a groove or slot of an inferior second device so that a plurality of devices may be easily oriented in a stacked configuration by the worker so that that all of the openings are aligned as shown in FIG. 3.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. 

In the claims:
 1. A traffic management device comprising: a. a body generally defining an exterior surface and an interior space; b. a base supporting the body and disposed as to support the device on a surface when in use; and c. a handhold including at least a first opening in the body, the opening extending from the exterior surface to the interior space and being configured for receiving a hand there through for grasping and carrying the device wherein the device and handhold are configured to permit a plurality of said devices to be stacked such that the exterior body surface of an inferior-positioned of said plurality of said devices is receivable within the interior space of a superior-positioned said plurality of said devices; and wherein the devices are stackable in a predetermined orientation with at least a portion of the openings being overlapping to permit grasping of said plurality of said devices simultaneously thereby.
 2. The device of claim 1 further including a registration structure that includes interior structure disposed on the interior surface and exterior structure disposed on the exterior surface such that the interior structure of a superior-positioned device cooperates with the exterior structure of an inferior-positioned device, to assist in bringing the devices into the predetermined orientation during stacking.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the handhold includes a pair of openings.
 4. The device of claim 2 wherein the interior space is defined by an interior surface of the body and the interior surface has at least a portion visible through the handhold, the portion visible being finished so as not to diminish the alert characteristics of the device to a visual observer.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein the the registration structure comprises a slot and a groove cooperatively engageable one with the other.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The device of claim 5 wherein said plurality of said devices includes six devices.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body is generally conical.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the body exterior surface is reflective, at least a portion of the body interior surface is finished in manner consistent with the body exterior surface, the base and body are configured so that the center of mass of the device is located within the base, the opening is generally rectangular having four sides, at least a portion of the opening sides is configured for protecting a carrier grasping the device thereat,
 10. The device of claim 9 further including a frame securable with the opening, for grasping each opening thereat. 